Morgan: Can't we all just get along?

Rep. Seth Morgan has an idea for resolving his standoff with Gov. Ted Strickland over records on the governor's education plan: let a mediator help them work it out.

Rep. Seth Morgan has an idea for resolving his standoff with Gov. Ted Strickland over records on the governor's education plan: let a mediator help them work it out.

Morgan, a Huber Heights Republican, sued Strickland for allegedly failing to provide records that Morgan had requested on Strickland's plan to change the system for funding public schools.

Last week, the Ohio Supreme Court said Strickland should continue to provide Morgan with the records he had requested. At the same time, the all-Republican court declined to fault Strickland for not immediately providing all of the records, noting that Morgan's request covered thousands of pages of documents and e-mail messages.

Justice Paul E. Pfeifer, who was part of the court's unanimous ruling, entered a separate opinion in which he suggested that Strickland and Morgan should work with a mediator.

Morgan today agreed with Pfeifer's advice.

“I am, and have always been, more than willing to come to the table to discuss my requests," he said in a written statement. "It does seem that at times the governor finds open discussion on this issue more of a distraction. I think mediation would assist in fleshing out all the remaining questions on both sides.”

Asked about Morgan’s request, Strickland noted the court has said his office is complying with the records request and said he doesn’t know why mediation would be needed.

“I believe in mediation,” Strickland said. “I’m not ruling out mediation; I’m just not sure what the problem is that needs to be mediated.”